TOP 4 TIPS

TIP 1: Get care in-network

When you choose a plan that’s in network, whether it’s PPO or HMO, with your current doctor or a doctor you’d like to keep, you will always have the lowest cost for care. Because insurance companies have pre-negotiated preferred rates with network providers, that savings is passed on to you.

To minimize your out-of-pocket maternity cost be sure to double check your doctor is in network. This is worth planning out with your OB/GYN. The last thing you want is to discover is that your insurance provider billed a maternity procedure as out-of-network which increases your out of pocket expenses.

TIP 2: Sometimes higher premium is better than a high deductible

The factors many people consider are premium costs and plan deductibles. They both typically move in opposite directions. They tend to cancel each other out when mom has her baby. Having a low-cost plan with a large deductible does not save you much money when you checks into a hospital for labor and delivery.

A basic rule of thumb in this case for expectant parents is to choose a health insurance policy with a higher premium and lower deductible. However, if you qualify for a subsidy through the affordable care act / Obamacare, you can qualify for a low premium and low deductible.

TIP 3: Make sure you get an estimate on how much the labor and delivery will cost.

One easy way to understand the cost of having a baby under a health insurance plan is to review the plan’s Summary of Benefits & Coverage of your plan. The Summary of Benefits & Coverage is required for each plan under Obamacare. You will have access to download it from the marketplace site as well. Toward the back of the document, the costs of having a baby with the plan will be spelled out as a coverage example.

Those costs can be very expensive without an adequate in-network policy. Plus, emergency procedures need to be taken into account. One in 10 babies deliver preterm, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Neonatal intensive care for newborns can produce "astronomical" costs without the right in-network plan in place.

Maternity coverage should be comprehensive across the entire pregnancy — not just when baby is born. Ask questions of your current insurer (or, if shopping around, your future insurer) about their maternity coverage. When selecting a plan, make sure you’re comfortable with the plan’s network of providers and consider the following when planning out your healthcare budget.

1. Prenatal services, health screenings, lab work, ultrasounds and birthing classes across all three trimesters
2. Medical conditions that could complicate the pregnancy
3. High-risk pregnancy factors, like unplanned obstetrical surgery, epidurals, premature births, incubation or extended stays in the neonatal unit, NICU or maternity ward
4. Pediatric and/or routine and emergency care after baby is born, plus necessary immunizations, vaccinations and checkups in the early months and years of baby’s life, and common baby illnesses

TIP: 4 Examine your options

Shopping around for a health insurance policy when you’re uninsured (or your employer doesn’t sponsor a policy) and you’re pregnant can introduce lots of stress and make it seem like your options are limited.

However, there are options. For starters, you can purchase a plan on your state health insurance marketplace. Federal open enrollment is from Nov. 1 through Dec. 15. Don’t wait until the last minute to make a decision. The earlier you start the better.

If you miss your chance to enroll, you need to qualify for special enrollment. Pregnancy doesn't count as a qualifying event, but having a child does, so you can enroll for a new plan after giving birth.